Chile: fishermen protest, block roads after toxic blooms

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean fishermen have staged a protest demanding the government compensate them better after toxic algae blooms killed their catch.

The fishermen blocked roads and set up flaming barricades in several cities in Chile's south Tuesday to pressure President Michelle Bachelet to increase the $150 that they say the government has offered for compensation. They say that is not enough to cover the basic needs of their families after their livelihoods were put at risk.

About 6,500 fishermen are in line for payments.

Last week, Bachelet declared the southern Los Lagos area an emergency zone.

The archipelago of Chiloe has also been badly hit by algae blooms, which asphyxiate fish by decreasing oxygen in the water. Fishermen also blocked boat access from the mainland to the Chiloe archipelago.